Ranjit Mistry of the Highways Agency said: “Vital bridge maintenance work on the bridges will continue into early August due to unavoidable delays.”

The maintenance work, involving re waterproofing and resurfacing the River Great Ouse Bridge, the River Nar Bridge and the Harbour Junction Bridge, is now scheduled for completion in the morning of Tuesday August 12.

The agency official added: “The delays are due to additional repairs needing to be carried out to the bridges and rain when waterproofing work was scheduled to take place.

“We have reprogrammed the remaining maintenance work and, subject to favourable weather conditions, we plan to finish on August 12.”

The current contraflow system and 30mph limit on the A47 will remain in place between Pullover Roundabout and Hardwick Roundabout until August 8.

The maintenance work was originally planned to be complete on July 29.

Road users are advised to plan their journeys in advance and leave extra time if necessary.